Are you ready for some football?? (Play-offs that is...)

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans

This is an intriguing matchup.  Both teams are looking for rare post season victories, and will be playing with a chip on their shoulder.  Houston has not won a game in nearly a month, when they beat Cincinnati to clinch the AFC South title and secure the franchise’s first playoff appearance.  While the Bengals are looking for their first playoff victory in over 20 years.

Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak used last week to rest some of his starters in a meaningless game against the Tennessee Titans.  Probably a smart move considering they were guaranteed the number 3 seed, and have been plagued by injuries all season.  First and second string quarterbacks Matt Schaub (foot) and Matt Leinhart (collarbone) were lost for the season in consecutive weeks.  Linebacker Mario Williams was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, a crushing blow to the defense.  Running back Arian Foster and Pro Bowl wide out Andre Johnson are expected to play but have been nagged by hamstring tweaks all season.  Even third string rookie quarterback T.J. Yates suffered a bruised shoulder in the last of the season.  Nonetheless, he has performed well since filling in, completing over 60 percent of passes with 3 TDs and 3 ints.  The Texans’ also have the NFL’s second rank defense, which should allow them to take more chances on the offensive side of the ball.

First year Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green is posting a phenomenal rookie campaign and admits “(The Dec. 11 loss is) in the back of our mind.”  While fellow rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is having the type of season that makes Bengals fans go, “Carson who?”  This is only the third playoff appearance for the Bengals since 2005 and would be the first playoff victory since Jan. 6, 1991.  Dalton and Green will be playing with something to prove to their teammates, fans, and the rest of the league.  The prized quarterback has been fighting the flu and will be ready to play come Saturday.  The poor Bengals defense will have to improve after allowing 221 yards on the ground last weekend against AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens.  While their upcoming opponent boasts the second ranked NFL ground game.

The Bengals are 0-7 against playoff teams this season.  And when these teams met in December, Houston turned the ball over 4 times and still managed to pull a win out thanks to some late game heroics by Yates.  Moreover I think the pressure of their first playoffs will be too much for the rookies in their first year.  Even though the Texans are starting a rookie QB as well, he is surrounded by more veteran leadership.  I expect for them to take better care of the football, and win this game as well.

SCORE PREDICTION:  20-17 Texans Win